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Lynx, the Snow Cat Others Being the Mountain Lion and the Bobcat ReturnReturn OfOf TheThe SnowSnow CatCat TheThe ReintroductionReintroduction OfOf LynxLynx ToTo ColoradoColorado Acknowledgments Funding for this project was provided by US Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program Grant No R-11-1, Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO), and the sportsmen of Colorado. The Colorado Division of Wildlife gratefully acknowledges the following individuals: Kevin S. McKelvey, USDA Forest Service, Field-test Educators: Rocky Mountain Research Station, Robert Lancaster, Walsh High School, Missoula, MT, for providing lynx occurrence Walsh, CO data from 1842 through 1998. Mark Little, Broomfield High School, Broomfield, CO For assistance in developing the field test: Lyn Neve, Swink High School, Swink, CO Anne Tweed, Senior Science Consultant, Camille Schiraldi, TH Pickens Technical McREL (Mid-continent Research for Center, Aurora, CO Education and Learning) Fran Sturgis, Adams City High School, Pam Van Scotter, Director, BSCS (Biological Commerce City, CO Sciences Curriculum Study) Center for Cherie Wyatt, Burlington Middle School, Curriculum Development. Burlington, CO Nicole Knapp, Science Educator, BSCS Debbie Yeager, Moffat County High School, Craig, CO Content Advisors and Reviewers: Graphic Design: Writers: Tanya Shenk, Senior Research Darren Eurich, State of Colorado Wendy Hanophy, DOW Biologist, Mammal Research Integrated Document Solutions (IDS) Jeff Keidel, Buena Vista High School, Jeff Rucks, Head of Education, DOW Buena Vista, CO Lisa Evans, Northeast Region Illustrations: Education Coordinator, DOW Helen Zane Jensen, Life-Size Snow Copy Editor: Steve Lucero, Southeast Region Tracks Dawn Taylor Owens, Colorado Education Coordinator, DOW Marjorie Leggitt, All Other Illustrations Department of Natural Resources Linda Groat, Southeast Region Rural Education Specialist, DOW Classroom Observations and Educator Printing: Debbie Lerch-Cushman, Metro Denver Interviews: Education Coordinator, DOW State of Colorado Integrated Stan Johnson, Northwest Region James Philips Document Solutions (IDS) Print Education Coordinator, DOW Wendy Hanophy Operations Renee Herring, Wildlife Watch Coordinator, DOW Administrative Assistance: ©Copyright 2005 by Colorado Division of Wildlife. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce handouts and Mackenzie Bulger transparencies for classroom use. All illustrations are copy- Map Development: righted by the artists and may not be reproduced for other Chris Flohr than classroom use—they may not be reproduced or Don Schrupp, Southwest ReGAP, Paula Zangari transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or Colorado Principal Investigator mechanical, or by any information storage or retrieval Eric Waller, Southwest ReGAP, system, without permission in writing. For permissions and Project Coordinator and Editor: other rights under this copyright, please contact Colorado Colorado Land Cover Coordinator Division of Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216, Wendy Hanophy, DOW Attn: Wendy Hanophy. TableTable OfOf ContentsContents Return Of The Snow Cat The Reintroduction Of Lynx To Colorado Module Overview . 1 Lesson 1: Lynx Links Educator’s Overview. 6 Lynx Links . 12 Lesson 2: Planning The “Purrrfect” Comeback Educator’s Overview. 22 Planning the “Purrrfect Comeback” . 26 Lesson 3: Map That Cat Educator’s Overview. 32 Lynx Sightings in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado . 48 Lesson 4: Built-in Snowshoes Educator’s Overview. 50 Built-in Snowshoes . 56 TableTable OfOf ContentsContents Lesson 5: Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow Educator’s Overview. 66 Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow . 72 Lesson 6: No Cat Is An Island Educator’s Overview. 82 No Cat Is An Island . 90 Lesson 7: It’s A Plot! Educator’s Overview. 100 It’s A Plot! . 104 Lesson 8: Seven Steps To Success Educator’s Overview. 114 Seven Steps To Success . 116 Glossary . 121 Module Overview Return Of The Snow Cat The Reintroduction Of Lynx To Colorado Cool Cats, Cool Science The reintroduction sounds interesting, but you may wonder what’s in it for you and your One hundred years ago, Colorado had students. Are you interested in providing fewer than 2,000 elk, 7,000 deer, and 1,000 students with an opportunity to explore the pronghorn. Through the efforts of involved applications of science to real issues? Do you citizens and the Colorado Division of Wildlife long for materials with real depth that can (DOW), our state now has more than 300,000 allow your students to explore a topic in many elk, 500,000 deer, and 60,000 pronghorn. The ways? Do you want your students to use real DOW has also restored diminishing popu- (and current) research data to analyze, draw lations of river otters, ospreys, peregrine conclusions about, and apply to real situ- falcons, bald eagles and greenback cutthroat ations? Understand and interpret patterns trout to healthy levels. from numbers? Use the scientific process to raise their own questions, develop hypotheses Now, a historic and heroic project is and examine data to test them? Develop underway to return the beautiful Canada lynx critical reading skills? Understand the cross- to its historic range in Colorado. The mid-size disciplinary nature of science issues and wildcat was presumed extirpated from the problems? If you answered yes to any of state and listed as “state endangered” in these questions, this module is for you. 1973. After many years searching for any remaining lynx, the Colorado Division of Wildlife began a pro-active reintroduction effort. The first lynx were released on February What is This? 3, 1999. By 2000, the regal cat with the short tail, large fur-covered paws and tufted ears This eight-lesson module, designed for was listed as “threatened” under the federal two weeks of classroom instruction, teaches Endangered Species Act. Colorado’s lynx basic high school level ecology (ecosystems, restoration project seeks to prevent the lynx population dynamics, and more) using real from ever reaching “endangered” status, and research data from the Colorado Division of hopefully to delist them altogether. Wildlife’s lynx reintroduction efforts. The module is designed to supplement or replace This is only the second time in North the activities found in most high school America that a lynx reintroduction has been biology, ecology, or environmental science attempted. The first effort to establish lynx in textbooks that address these topics. It is the Adirondack Park in New York in the late first module developed by the DOW to 1980’s failed. There was no adequate moni- address the specific learning objectives of toring plan, and it was impossible to discern high school students. Materials are inquiry- where the project went wrong. When based, develop critical thinking skills, supply Colorado decided to undertake this project, evidence to support each concept, and the state put in place stringent scientific moni- include a field research experience. toring. Not only would this experimental Module Overview approach enhance the success of the reintro- duction, it would allow scientists to add to a growing body of knowledge about species restoration. Return Of The Snow Cat 1 Using Return Of The Snow Cat: Steve Lucero, Education Coordinator SE Region The Reintroduction Of Lynx To 4255 Sinton Road Colorado in Your Classroom Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-227-5203 The lessons in this module are designed Lisa Evans, Education Coordinator, to be taught in sequence. For each activity, NE Region the students take on the role of a scientist, 317 W. Prospect receive an introduction to the problem and to Ft Collins, CO 80526 their task, are required to choose relevant 970-472-4343 information, and collect, record, and analyze data. Debbie Lerch-Cushman, Education Coordinator, Denver Metro Area To supplement this module, each regional 6060 Broadway DOW office has a Lynx Loan Box available for Denver, CO 80216 check out. The box contains pelts and skulls 303-291-7328 of many subalpine animals, additional lessons, print material, and videos. Contact the Education Coordinator in your region to reserve the loan box: Correlation to the Colorado Model Stan Johnson, Education Coordinator, Content Standards NW Region 711 Independent Ave. Return Of The Snow Cat: The Grand Junction, CO 81505 Reintroduction Of Lynx To Colorado supports 970-255-6191 teachers in their efforts to provide the knowledge and skills specified in the Linda Groat, Rural Education Specialist, Colorado Model Content Standards and the SE Region corresponding grade level assessment 2500 S. Main frameworks. Lamar, CO 81052 719-336-6608 Lynx Module Overview 2 Return Of The Snow Cat COLORADO MODEL CONTENT STANDARDS Lesson 2: Lesson 4: Lesson 5: Lesson 6: Lesson 8: Lesson 1: Planning The Lesson 3: Lesson 7: Built-in Hare Today, No Cat Is Seven Steps Lynx Links “Purrrfect” Map That Cat It’s A Plot! Snowshoes Gone Tomorrow An Island To Success Science Comeback 1: Students understand the processes of XX X X XX X scientific investigation and design. They conduct, communicate about and evaluate such investigations. 2.3: Students understand that interactions X can produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter and energy remain unchanged. 3.1: Students know and understand the XXXXXXXX characteristics of living things, the diversity of life, and how living things interact with each other and with their environment. 3.3: Students know and understand how the X human body functions, factors that influence its structures and functions, and how these structures and functions compare with those
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